Modal Perfect: should have, could have, would have
இறந்தகால இயலுமை வினைச்சொற்கள்
These three modal-plus-have combinations reflect on a past that didn't happen — a missed obligation, an unused ability, or an unfulfilled decision — each carrying a distinct emotional shade.
Grammar Comparison
இலக்கண ஒப்பீடு
Three flavors of looking back at what didn't happen
You should have told me. (regret about a missed obligation) / I could have helped. (an unused ability or opportunity) / I would have come, but... (an unfulfilled decision, usually with a reason attached)
நீ எனக்குச் சொல்லியிருக்கணும். / நான் உதவியிருக்கலாம். / நான் வந்திருப்பேன், ஆனால்... (a similar layered past-conditional family, distinguished mainly by context)
Tamil's own past-conditional layering can express all three of these ideas, with the specific flavor of regret, missed ability, or unfulfilled intention usually coming from context and word choice rather than three grammatically distinct forms. English keeps these three modals grammatically separate even though they share the same have + participle structure: should have criticizes a past inaction, could have points to a missed possibility, and would have usually needs a 'but' clause explaining why the intended action didn't happen.
Vocabulary
சொற்கள்
| English | Pronunciation | Tamil |
|---|---|---|
| You should have told me. | yoo shood hav tohld mee | நீ எனக்குச் சொல்லியிருக்கணும்.nī enakkuch solliyirukkaṇum. |
| I could have helped. | eye kood hav helpt | நான் உதவியிருக்கலாம்.nān udhaviyirukkalām. |
| I would have come, but I was sick. | eye wood hav kum but eye wuz sik | நான் வந்திருப்பேன், ஆனா எனக்கு உடம்பு சரியில்ல.nān vandhiruppēn, ānā enakku uḍambu sariyilla. |